Apparatus and method for joining loops of a tubular knitted article

Abstract

A loop joining apparatus is for joining loops of a tubular knitted article, and includes a reed unit and two loop holding units. The reed unit includes a first reed including a plurality of first reed teeth, and a second reed including a plurality of second reed teeth. The first and second reeds are pivotable relative to each other about a folding axis to transform between an expanded state and a stacked state. Each of the loop holding units holds at least one of two adjacent ones of the loops that are positioned closest to and symmetrical about the folding axis, to retain the at least one of the two adjacent ones of the loops on a corresponding one of the first and second reed teeth when the reed unit is transformed to the stacked state.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A loop joining apparatus for joining loops of an open end of a tubular knitted article to close the open end, the loops of the open end surrounding a central axis, said loop joining apparatus comprising:
 a reed unit including a first reed that includes a plurality of first reed teeth, and a second reed that is pivotally connected to said first reed and that includes a plurality of second reed teeth, said first and second reeds being pivotable relative to each other about a folding axis which is transverse to the central axis, to transform said reed unit between an expanded state and a stacked state; and 
 two loop holding units aligned along the folding axis and disposed respectively adjacent to two line intersects of the folding axis and said reed unit; 
 
       wherein:
 when said reed unit is in the expanded state, said first and second reeds are disposed side by side and symmetrical about the folding axis, and said first and second reed teeth surround the central axis and are adapted for respectively extending through the loops; and 
 when said reed unit is in the stacked state, said first and second reeds are stacked together, and said first reed teeth respectively mate with said second reed teeth; and 
 when said reed unit is transformed from the expanded state to the staked state, each of said loop holding units holds at least one of two adjacent ones of the loops that are positioned closest to and symmetrical about a respective one of the line intersects, so as to retain said at least one of the two adjacent ones of the loops on a corresponding one of said first and second reed teeth. 
 
     
     
       2. The loop joining apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of said loop holding units includes a holding member that has a retaining end portion, and that is operable to move between a holding position, where said retaining end portion is adapted to hold said at least one of the two adjacent ones of the loops so as to retain said at least one of the two adjacent ones of the loops on the corresponding one of said first and second reed teeth, and a non-holding position, where said retaining end portion of said holding member is spaced apart from said reed unit, and releases said at least one of the two adjacent ones of the loops. 
     
     
       3. The loop joining apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said second reed is pivotable about the folding axis relative to said first reed so as to permit said reed unit to transform between the expanded state and the stacked state, said retaining end portion of said holding member of each of said loop holding units being adapted to hold a selected one of the two adjacent ones of the loops that are positioned closest to a corresponding one of the line intersects, so as to retain said selected one of the two adjacent ones of the loops on the corresponding one of said first reed teeth. 
     
     
       4. The loop joining apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said retaining end portion of said holding member of each of said loop holding units is adapted to hold an interconnecting section that interconnects the two adjacent ones of the loops, such that the two adjacent ones of the loops are respectively retained on the corresponding ones of said first and second reed teeth. 
     
     
       5. The loop joining apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein each of said loop holding units further includes a driving member for driving said holding member of a corresponding one of said loop holding units to move between the holding position and the non-holding position. 
     
     
       6. The loop joining apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein:
 said holding member of each of said loop holding units further has a pivot end portion that is opposite to said retaining end portion, and a middle portion that interconnects said pivot end portion and said retaining end portion; and 
 each of said loop holding units further includes a stationary platform that permits said pivot end portion of said holding member to be pivoted thereto, and a linking member that extends movably through said stationary platform, and that has a first end pivoted to said middle portion of said holding member, and a second end opposite to said first end and pivoted to said driving member, such that said driving member is operable to drive said holding member to move between the holding position and the non-holding position through said linking member. 
 
     
     
       7. The loop joining apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said linking member is L-shaped. 
     
     
       8. The loop joining apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said retaining end portion of said holding member is configured as a hook. 
     
     
       9. The loop joining apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said retaining end portion of said holding member is configured as a brush. 
     
     
       10. The loop joining apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said retaining end portion of said holding member is configured as an air nozzle. 
     
     
       11. A method for joining loops of an open end of a tubular knitted article to close the open end, the loops of the open end surrounding a central axis, the method comprising the steps of:
 (1) extending respectively first and second reed teeth of first and second reeds of a reed unit through the loops when the reed unit is in an expanded state; 
 (2) retaining at least one of two adjacent ones of the loops that are positioned closest to and symmetrical about one of two line intersects of the reed unit and a folding axis about which the first and second reeds are pivotable relative to each other on a corresponding one of the first and second reed teeth, and retaining at least one of two adjacent ones of the loops that are positioned closest to and symmetrical about the other one of the two line intersects on another corresponding one of the first and second reed teeth; and 
 (3) transforming the reed unit from the expanded state to a stacked state, so that the first and second reeds are stacked together, and the first reed teeth respectively mate with the second reed teeth. 
 
     
     
       12. The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein, in step (2), for each of the line intersects, a selected one of the two adjacent ones of the loops that are positioned closest to a corresponding one of the line intersects, is held and retained on the corresponding one of the first reed teeth. 
     
     
       13. The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein, in step (2), for each of the line intersects, an interconnecting section that interconnects the two adjacent ones of the loops is held, so as to retain the two adjacent ones of the loops on the corresponding ones of the first and second reed teeth.